What do you learn in German A1?

Many people believe that it is relatively difficult to start learning German and therefore put it off for a long time. However, German is not that difficult, especially at the beginner level.

To communicate in simple situations, you usually only need the present tense (Präsens). It can be challenging to learn all the nouns along with their articles, but in many situations, you can also omit the articles, as in the sentence: "I like to drink coffee."
If you are proficient in English, Dutch, or another Germanic language, many words can be derived because they are similar, e.g.: bringen - to bring, das Ding - the thing, lachen - to laugh, sieben - seven, neun - nine. The pronunciation of the words follows fixed rules and is (unlike in English) always the same. Of the four cases, you only need three for everyday speaking. In most cases, the direct object is in the accusative, which is the simpler case (only the masculine article changes).
And most importantly: Even if you use the wrong article, everyone understands what is meant. Native speakers are usually happy when someone tries to speak German and are also willing to help if you don't know a word.
Try not to speak perfect German at the beginning, but just start. There will always be misunderstandings; they are part of communication, and only with their help will you learn faster. Just like children learning to walk often fall at first but get up again and continue, you should also apply German practically from the start to quickly improve your German skills.

The language level A1 is the first step on the way to understanding and speaking German. At this level, it's about getting by in simple everyday situations. You will learn basic words and phrases that you need, for example, when shopping, introducing yourself, or in a café. You will be able to introduce yourself, ask for directions, or place an order – simple things, but an important start.

Grammar and sentence structure do not play a big role at this level; it is mainly about developing your first communication skills. You will get to know the most important verbs and simple sentence structures to make simple statements or ask questions. An example: You can say, "My name is…", "I come from…", "How are you?" – thus conducting basic conversations that help you get by in Berlin and other German-speaking regions.

Of course, it can be a bit bumpy at first, especially if you are not yet accustomed to the language. You will notice that you often manage with simple sentences, but that is exactly what level A1 is about: the foundation to even start a conversation. And don't worry, you will quickly notice how your vocabulary expands and you understand more and more. In Berlin, where you are constantly surrounded by the language, learning is additionally facilitated – you are practically practicing nonstop!

By the end of the A1 level, you can already hold simple conversations and have a solid foundation to continue learning. It is the starting point for anyone who wants to learn German from scratch and feel more confident in dealing with the language.